java_junkie92 's review for:

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

4.25

adventurous emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Really enjoyed this retelling of the Ramayana, told from the perspective of one of the original myth's villains. It gave Kaikeyi a rich back story, exploring the reasoning behind her actions, besides chalking it up to selfishness. Kaikeyi isn't "loveable;" she's better. She takes charge of her own destiny, and tries to do what she thinks is right, even if in the end her choices lead to tragedy. Became really invested in her character, and appreciated how layered the main characters were, for the most part. As the story got closer to some of the original myth's main plot points, some of that layering started to come apart a bit. But overall, really enjoyed this book, and appreciated the nuanced voice it gave to female characters.